Ney Matogrosso

Biography

Ney de Souza Pereira, professionally known as Ney Matogrosso, was born on August 1, 1941, in Bela Vista, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Raised in a family marked by both discipline and art—his father was a military man and his mother a pianist—Ney developed an early fascination for music and theater. After a stint in the air force and performing in vocal quartets, he moved to São Paulo in 1971, adopting his stage name as a tribute to his home state. That same year, he joined the groundbreaking glam rock group Secos & Molhados, whose bold visual style and subversive lyrics made them a sensation and sold over a million records in less than two years.

Following the group's dissolution in 1974, Ney embarked on a solo career that would span decades and nearly 50 albums. Renowned for his countertenor voice, theatrical stage presence, and androgynous persona, he became a symbol of artistic freedom and queer expression in Brazil, especially during the oppressive military dictatorship. His solo work traversed genres such as MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), samba, pop, and avant-garde, and he collaborated with many of Brazil's most important composers. Ney's performances, often featuring extravagant costumes and choreography, challenged gender norms and social conventions, leaving a profound impact on Brazilian culture.

Over the years, Ney Matogrosso has received numerous accolades, including the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He is celebrated not only for his musical innovation but also for his courage in confronting prejudice and expanding the boundaries of popular music and performance art in Brazil.

Fun Facts

• Ney Matogrosso adopted his stage name as a tribute to his home state, Mato Grosso do Sul, and as a nod to his father's name.
• He is famous for his extravagant costumes and makeup, which were especially groundbreaking during Brazil's conservative military dictatorship.
• Ney's countertenor voice is considered one of the most distinctive in Latin American music, earning him a place as the third greatest Latin American singer of all time by Rolling Stone.
• He was one of the first major Brazilian artists to openly challenge gender norms and is regarded as an icon of queer expression in Brazil.

Associated Acts

• Secos & Molhados

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• His mother (pianist) - Early musical influence and exposure to the arts (N/A) [1940s–1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Secos & Molhados - Bandmate and lead singer; group became a cultural phenomenon (Secos & Molhados (1973), Secos & Molhados II (1974)) [1971–1974]
• Chico Buarque - Collaborated on songs and performances ("Não Existe Pecado ao Sul do Equador") [1970s–present]
• Cazuza - Worked with emerging composer in mid-1980s (Live performances, studio collaborations) [1980s]
• Caetano Veloso - Collaborative performances and mutual influence (Live shows, joint appearances) [1970s–present]
• Itamar Assumpção - Collaborative performances and recordings (Various live and studio collaborations) [1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Liniker - Inspired by Ney's gender-fluid performance style and vocal approach (Liniker e os Caramelows discography) [2010s–present]
• Johnny Hooker - Cites Ney as a major influence on stage presence and artistic freedom (Johnny Hooker albums and performances) [2010s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Poema (Olhos De Farol)
2. Homem Com H (Ney Matogrosso)
3. Sorte
4. Algoritmo Íntimo
5. Sangue latino (Pecado (1977))
6. Pássaro Branco
7. Ex-Amor
8. Balada Do Louco (Bugre (1986))
9. Tanto Amar (Mato Grosso (1982))
10. Pro Dia Nascer Feliz (feat. Ney Matogrosso) - Ao Vivo (Multishow ao Vivo - Jota Quest - Folia & Caos)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #mpb, #pop